How to lose weight without dieting

Newlywed, new mom and first-time home buyer, Sarah is currently playing out her exciting life in Phoenix, Arizona. She recently gave up her job in finance to stay at home with her baby girl, who between bath time and feeding time, keeps ...

Get your bikini body back!

Does the word "diet" make you cringe? If so, you're not alone. In fact, you're just like almost every other woman on the planet.

Here's to no more dieting! We've come up with ways to lose weight without having to sacrifice your favorite foods or spend countless hours in the gym. They're what we like to call "little tricks for looking good," and they work.

Dieting typically involves taking extreme measures to lose weight — only to gain it back within a few months of eating normally again. Our secrets are more of a lifestyle change but an easy one. At the very least, try these tips for two weeks and see if you notice a difference!

1

Load up on green tea

Green tea should be a staple in your diet — whether you're looking to drop a few pounds or simply wanting to be healthier. It's packed with antioxidants, fights cancer, lowers cholesterol and burns fat. Try replacing all of your daily beverages, other than water, with green tea for one week. We're certain you'll drop at least two pounds, possibly more. After that week, incorporate green tea into your daily meal plan.

Drink water before every meal

Drinking water keeps you hydrated. If you're dehydrated, your metabolism slows down, and you don't digest food as quickly or efficiently as you should. Drink 1-2 glasses of water prior to each meal to get your metabolism going and fill up your stomach. Studies show that those who drink water prior to eating meals consume 75 fewer calories on average than their nonwater drinking counterparts. Though that may not seem like much, it's about 225 calories per day that you aren't consuming.

3

Don't obsess

If someone tells you not to think about flying pigs, you're going to think about flying pigs. The same goes for when you're dieting — people tend to obsess over food when they can't eat it, which leads to unhealthy binges and weight gain. Stop making food your focus. Plan your day around work, kids, activities, hobbies and helping others rather than focusing all of your energy on food (or lack of). When you're hungry, drink water and grab something healthy to eat. Simple as that!

4

Take the stairs

You don't need to spend hours sweating in the gym in order to lose weight. Instead, start taking advantage of the small opportunities to work out that pop up throughout the day. Park in the last spot in the parking lot instead of the first, go for a longer-than-usual walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator, bike to work or do jumping jacks during the commercials of your favorite television show. Keep your body moving on a regular basis to start losing weight long term.

5

Eat often

Say what? Eating six small meals throughout the day instead of three big ones can help keep hunger and temptations at bay. The key here is to make sure you're making healthy choices. Losing weight comes down to one simple mathematical equation — calories in must be less than calories out. If you're eating six large, high-calorie meals, you won't lose weight. Try eating six "snack-sized" meals for a week and record your calories. Are you eating more or less?